Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola is preparing to assess his evolving squad as the club faces Atletico Madrid in their opening Champions League group stage match at Anfield on Wednesday. The contest will mark Iraola’s European managerial debut since taking charge of the Reds this summer.
Liverpool entered the fixture following their first victory under Iraola’s tenure, a 2-0 win over Ipswich Town last Friday. However, the team may be without key winger Cody Gakpo, who missed training ahead of the game, potentially opening the door for summer signing Bradley Barcola to make his first Liverpool start. Barcola, who joined the club in a deal worth £123 million, debuted as a substitute against Ipswich but has not featured for his former club Paris St-Germain during pre-season, which has limited his match fitness.
Iraola, whose only prior European coaching experience came with AEK Larnaca in the Europa League eight years ago, highlighted the significance of the Atletico Madrid fixture, describing it as a major test for his squad. “Everyone talks about Champions League nights at Anfield and the first game is against Atletico Madrid, one of the strongest oppositions that we are going to face this season,” he said. “It is a massive test for the team overall and it will show us a little bit where we are.”
In addition to Barcola, other new signings such as Victor Munoz, Jeremy Jacquet, and Ronald Araujo—currently on loan to Liverpool—are also expected to make their first appearances in European competition for the club during this game, providing further insight into the team’s readiness at the continental level.
While Barcola has been training well, Iraola noted the winger’s limited pre-season minutes and indicated that the coaching staff must carefully consider his playing time. “He is ready to play more minutes, he has been training quite normally. The only thing is he hasn’t had the pre-season minutes that normally players have and we have to consider this. But he is in a really good place,” Iraola said.
The match also comes in the wake of recent departures within Liverpool’s sporting hierarchy. Sporting director Richard Hughes left the club last weekend following the earlier exit of Michael Edwards, former chief executive of football at Liverpool’s parent company Fenway Sports Group. Both had played integral roles in assembling the current team and securing Iraola’s appointment as head coach.
Despite the management changes, Iraola expressed confidence that the team’s preparations remain unaffected. “It wasn’t a surprise when the news came last weekend,” he explained. “Richard with Michael, they are very good in their jobs, they understand very well what they need to do and I wish him all the best in his next stages. We are still working with the people that have been taking the decisions this summer. I have continuous connections, especially with Mike Gordon. We talk about the needs and we will keep working.”
Iraola emphasized that decision-making continues within the club as it seeks to determine the next steps in its sporting leadership. “A lot of the people involved in the decisions they are still with us every day. I continue talking to them,” he said, signaling a commitment to stability amid the ongoing transition as Liverpool embarks on their Champions League campaign.